EUNIS habitat classification 2017 > M - Marine benthic habitats > MB5 - Infralittoral sand > MB52 - Atlantic infralittoral sand > MB522 - Seagrass beds on Atlantic infralittoral sand > MB5224 - Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral muddy sand

Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity Atlantic infralittoral muddy sand

Description (English)

In sheltered brackish muddy sand and mud, beds of Ruppia maritima and more rarely Ruppia spiralis may occur. These beds may be populated by fish such as Gasterosteus aculeatus which is less common on filamentous algal-dominated sediments. Seaweeds such as Chaetomorpha spp., Enteromorpha spp., Cladophora spp., and Chorda filum are also often present in addition to occasional fucoids. In some cases the stoneworts Lamprothamnium papulosum and Chara aspera occur. Infaunal and epifaunal species may include mysid crustacea, the polychaete Arenicola marina, the gastropod Hydrobia ulvae, the amphipod Corophium volutator and oligochaetes such as Heterochaeta costata. In some areas Zostera marina may also be interspersed with the Ruppia beds.

Source: EUNIS habitat classification

Quick facts

EUNIS habitat type	code MB5224
Relation to	Resolution 4 habitat type (used for designation of Emerald sites)

Legal status

Relation to other habitat types mentioned in legal instruments

Legal text	Annex	Name in legal text	Code in legal text	Habitat type relationship	More information
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time	1110	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats	Revised Annex I of Resolution 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention on endangered natural habitats types using the EUNIS habitat classification (year of revision 2010)	Large shallow inlets and bays	1160	Overlap	https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 4 (1996) of the Bern Convention lists endangered natural habitats requiring specific conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming the Emerald network]

Vegetation types

Relation to vegetation types (syntaxa)

Not available

Species mentioned in habitat description

Algae Chorda filum

Algae Lamprothamnium papulosum

Fishes Gasterosteus aculeatus

Flowering Plants Ruppia maritima

Flowering Plants Ruppia spiralis

Invertebrates Arenicola marina

Invertebrates Corophium volutator

Invertebrates Heterochaeta costata

Invertebrates Hydrobia ulvae

Species scientific name	English common name	Species group
Chorda filum		Algae
Lamprothamnium papulosum		Algae
Gasterosteus aculeatus		Fishes
Ruppia maritima		Flowering Plants
Ruppia spiralis		Flowering Plants
Arenicola marina		Invertebrates
Corophium volutator		Invertebrates
Heterochaeta costata		Invertebrates
Hydrobia ulvae		Invertebrates

Other classifications

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.5341	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	overlap
EUNIS Habitat Classification 2007 (revised descriptions 2012)	A5.5343	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same

For relation to plant communities (syntaxa), see Vegetation types

History

Classification	Code	Habitat type name	Relationship type
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.5341	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200410	A5.5343	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.543	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200308	A4.541	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.543	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 200202	A4.541	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.543	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199910	A4.541	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199811	A4.541	Middle European Ruppia and Zannichellia communities	same
EUNIS Habitat Classification 199712	A2.411	Middle European marine tasselweed communities	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 199905	11.411	Middle European marine tasselweed communities	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1997	11.411	Middle European marine tasselweed communities	same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1996	11.411		same
Palaearctic Habitat Classification 1993	11.411		same
MNCR BioMar 97.06 (Britain & Ireland)	IMS.Sgr.Rup	Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand	same

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